Ducks host Utah in battle of Top 20 teams


The status of Vernon Adams is uncertain for Oregon. Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
The status of Vernon Adams is uncertain for Oregon. Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

EUGENE, Ore. — It could be a battle of backup quarterbacks when Oregon hosts Utah in a battle of Top 20 ranked teams on Saturday.

Or the starters could be back on the field for the 13th-ranked Ducks and the 18th-ranked Utes.

Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams missed the 61-28 win over Georgia State on Saturday with a broken finger. Adams broke his finger in a season-opening win over Eastern Washington and played in the loss to Michigan State before sitting out against the Panthers.

Adams said he is confident he can play through the pain and said this week he expects to play against Utah.

“I can definitely play throughout the season because I played in the (Michigan State) game,” Adams said. “I just have to keep rehabbing it, icing it, and make sure the swelling goes down so hopefully I am 100 percent as soon as possible.”

Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost indicated that Adams may have been able to play against Georgia State, but the Ducks elected to go with Jeff Lockie in the win.

“I think coming into this week we had to weigh his health versus the advantage we’d get resting him for a week and seeing if his finger could heal,” Frost said of Adams. “It’s a decision we made.”

Lockie was 23-for-31 for 228 yards and two touchdowns in his first career start.

“I think in a lot of ways he did a good job managing the game,” Oregon coach Mark Helfrich said. “There were a couple throwaways, he put the ball in a couple good spots. If you’re going to have a good incompletion, he had that. (He) took the one sack there to back us up, which wasn’t good.”

Lockie also gave himself a mixed review.

“It was a lot of fun, just hearing your name called and getting that opportunity,” Lockie said. “Obviously we’ve got to score more touchdowns there in the beginning … it definitely starts with me.”

Utah defeated Fresno State 45-24 with backup quarterback Kendal Thompson, who started in place of Travis Wilson, who had a shoulder injury. Wilson is questionable to return against Oregon.

Utah running back Devontae Booker is averaging 115 rushing yards per game with four touchdowns on the season and Helfrich said Booker’s role can change depending on the quarterback.

“Whoever’s in there, they play off Devontae Booker differently,” Helfrich said. “You’re preparing schematically to stop Booker, job one, and then the play-action game and/or quarterback run, all the other things that come off those guys. It’s kind of equal parts assignment football, and then rally to the ball.

NOTES, QUOTES
PLAYERS TO WATCH

–RB Royce Freeman only played in the first half against Georgia State, but he had 101 rushing yards on 10 carries with a touchdown. It was the eighth 100-yard rushing game in 18 career games. Freeman has run for 373 yards and five scores in three games this season, averaging more than six yards per carry.

–WR Dwayne Stanford led Oregon with 48 receiving yards and a touchdown against Georgia State after not having a catch in the loss to Michigan State. Stanford, a junior, has six catches for 138 yards on the season. Stanford was named the team’s offensive player of the week, in part due to his block on quarterback Taylor Alie’s 87-yard touchdown run. “It was a huge block by him there, a great hustle play,” Helfrich said.

–Sophomore S Tyree Robinson had his first career interception and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown against Georgia State. He added a second interception in the second quarter. “I’m blessed it happened and then I got another one too,” Robinson said. “Just a great day for me out there but I couldn’t do it without my teammates.”

SERIES HISTORY: Oregon leads Utah 20-8, including wins in each of the past two seasons after the Utes joined the Pac-12.

QUOTE TO NOTE: “We have to be. It’s time. I think right now we have to watch film and put away the first three games.” — Oregon defensive coordinator Don Pellum, when asked if his unit was ready for Pac-12 play.